IBM Sametime Unified Telephony

IBM® Sametime® Unified Telephony integrates telecommunications into your existing unified communications (UC) environment so people can use more cost-effective telephony features through systems integration. It provides one-number access to any device through rules-based intelligence, in-call management features and a softphone that allows users to place and receive calls from virtually anywhere. This system integration software masks the complexity of back-end integration with a middleware layer that provides connectivity to multiple telephone systems—both IP private branch exchange (PBX) and legacy time-division multiplexing (TDM) systems—allowing you to take advantage of your existing infrastructure.

Softphone, click-to-call, click-to-conference and call control features that let you initiate, manage and control calls.

IBM Sametime Unified Telephony dialer on Apple iOS and Google Android devices that enables you to make calls from your one unified phone number even when you are working away from your computer.

A simple, consistent user communications experience on the desktop client that lets you access and manage your communications from a central point.

A unified communications platform that offers systems integration with back-end telephony systems and features for reliability, scalability and easier management, helping to insulate the user experience from future changes to the telephony infrastructure.

Provide telephony status indicators (showing on the phone or off the phone) and online presence information, indicating your availability.

Provide a single unified phone number that allows callers to reach you regardless of your current location.

Set rules based on caller, time of day, status and location to route your calls, such as to redirect a call to a mobile phone after work hours.

Set your preferred device based on your availability and location status, or route calls to an alternative device if the first device is not answered.

Softphone, click-to-call, click-to-conference and call control features

Initiate and manage phone calls through a feature-rich telephony client using the IBM Sametime softphone, choosing either the computer's built-in microphone and speakers, a USB speakerphone or a headset.

Take advantage of your company’s network and telephony infrastructure to make and receive calls from virtually wherever you are to help reduce international or roaming fees and use your company's existing least-cost routing.

Initiate a call or audio conference through a PBX telephone system by selecting one or multiple names from the contact list. Or if you are collaborating with instant messaging (IM) and decide to escalate from IM to a call or audio conference, use the click-to-call, click-to-conference capability—with intelligent name and number recognition inside the text chat window or chat history to speed that transition.

Use call control capabilities to: click-to-call and click-to-conference; accept, reject or redirect an incoming call; transfer or forward a call; raise or lower volume; mute or unmute calls; move an active call to another device; merge calls; hold and resume calls; and disconnect calls.

Use multi-way call features to enable moderators to mute one or all participants; lock calls; invite others to a call; and end calls for everyone.

Use a local landline or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone when initiating voice calls using IBM Sametime Unified Telephony to help further reduce international long distance and roaming charges.

A simple, consistent user communications experience on the desktop client

Access and manage communications from a single IBM Sametime or IBM Lotus Notes® client; a Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Office application; or an enterprise application—whichever is your preferred work style.

Move from an IM to a call or conference.

Provide a consistent user experience and set of functions independent of the phone system to which users are connected.

Learn about the comprehensive telecommunications capabilities that can be integrated with instant collaboration tools for faster, more productive communication.

System Requirements

Support from IBM® Global Technology Services and IBM Business Partners

IBM and IBM Business Partners offer deep industry expertise, ROI methodologies and systems integration experience that can help speed the successful planning and deployment of unified communications and collaboration.

IBM Global Technology Services offer significant experience in telephony, a variety of converged communications services and deep industry business process expertise that can help speed time to value.

IBM Converged Communications Services for IBM Sametime® Unified Telephony can help you implement an integrated unified communications solution for a more collaborative and responsive organization.

IBM Business Partners that are authorized to sell and implement IBM Sametime Unified Telephony deliver a variety of services that complement IBM products and service offerings. See the IBM Global Solution Directory for a listing of Unified Communications & Collaboration partner offerings.

IBM Sametime Unified Telephony Testing Program

In response to widespread industry support for IBM Sametime Unified Telephony software, IBM has launched a testing program. This unified communications program allows third-party vendors and key IBM Business Partners to test a product’s interoperability with IBM software. This testing helps ensure that customers will be able to easily implement IBM Sametime Unified Telephony into their existing IT environment. (Note that customer projects might have unique characteristics, which need to be verified as part of the deployment and which may result in configuration changes to existing PBXs, gateways, and/or IBM Sametime Unified Telephony software as part of their deployment.)